What does it mean to Hyderabad cricket if N. Shivlal Yadav becomes the president of the BCCI (in charge of day-to-day affairs)? This question was raised at a function organised by Hyderabad Cricket Association to felicitate the former India off-spinner.
“Hyderabad Cricket Association (HCA) has been getting its due in the BCCI if you consider the number of officials from Hyderabad enlisted on various panels including M. V. Sridhar taking over as General Manager of BCCI (Cricket Operations),” reminds HCA Secretary Seshadri Venkateswaran. “Any State Cricket Association having its own man at the helm of BCCI will have a different clout,” he adds.
Not many can match the stature of Shivlal despite the pending charges of alleged misappropriation of funds (being probed by the ACB) in the construction of Rajiv Gandhi Stadium in Uppal during his tenure as HCA Secretary. Insiders believe that Shivlal taking over as BCCI chief just before the elections to HCA scheduled this May-end, might change equations amongst the contenders dramatically. Shivlal has declared that he will not contest the HCA elections.
“Having attained the highest position in the BCCI, I feel it is high time I shift my focus to other areas of cricket like coaching,” says Shivlal.
“I will not let down Hyderabad cricket or the HCA in my capacity as the BCCI president. I am always grateful to the cricketing fraternity here and all the Club officials who have been supporting me over the years,” he says, adding that even though his tenure as BCCI chief is brief (elections are scheduled in September this year), he will not be found wanting in giving the desired fillip to the sport.
“We have talent and it is a question of putting the right things in right places. This is where I can chip in to help Hyderabad cricket in a big way in my new role,” says Shivlal.
